FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS CONTACT: Alyssa Mayfield, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator 413.243.

9919 x132 amayfield@jacobspillow.org CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY KYLE ABRAHAM/ABRAHAM.IN.MOTION TO PERFORM THOUGHT-PROVOKING WORK PAVEMENT AT JACOBS PILLOW, AUGUST 21-25 EVENING-LENGTH WORK FUSES URBAN AND CLASSICAL INFLUENCES August 15, 2013(Becket, MA) Jacobs Pillow presents the athletic and daring Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion (A/I/M) in the Doris Duke Theatre, August 21-25. Led by 2012 Jacobs Pillow Dance Award recipient Kyle Abraham, A/I/M will perform Pavement (2012), a gripping contemporary work layered with urban and classical dance influences that shows great subtlety and beauty (Andrew Boynton, The New Yorker). The true aim of the work, according to Abraham, is to create an emotional chronology of a culture conflicted with a history plagued by discrimination, genocide, and a constant quest for a lottery ticket weighted in freedom." A source of inspiration for the creation of Pavement was Abrahams hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, specifically the neighborhoods of Homewood and the Hill District. These historically black areas thrived with art and culture in the 1950s, with jazz legends the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington performing at local theaters, but later turned to centers of drugs and gang violence. Abraham drew further inspiration from crime-drama film Boyz n the Hood (1991) and its portrayal of the state of Black American males at the end of the 20th century, as well as from Great Barrington, MA native W.E.B. Du Bois book The Souls of Black Folk. The choreography in Pavement delivers a sharp sense of reality with extraordinary softness, in dancing that is lush and seductive (Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post). Seven dancers take the stage in movement influenced by urban culture with strength and technical excellence. The work begins with a powerful solo performed by Abraham accompanied by Fred McDowells blues song Whats the Matter Now. The full cast sweeps the space in various solos, duets, and group sections. The phrases create imagery of strength and perseverance, and reflect Abrahams signature style of smooth undulating torsos, articulate arms, and intricate floor work (Adrienne Totino, examiner.com). The diverse music used in the work range from classical greats such as Johann Christian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi to electronic music from Hudson Mohawke and blues from Donny Hathaway. Jane Vranish of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette commented that the music is eclectic and ultimately universal. Sprinkled throughout the musical scores is onstage chatter and various sound clips, which Andrew Boynton of The New Yorker describes as giving a more concrete framework in which to understand the piece.

Pavement gains a clear sense of place through the set design by Dan Scully and the costume choices by Abraham, both of which portray life in an urban neighborhood. Included in the set is a chain-link fence and basketball hoop, whose backboard occasionally reflects film footage of housing projects and community infrastructures, courtesy of Pittsburgh filmmaker Chris Ivey. The costumes consist of casual, pedestrian clothing. Adrienne Totino of examiner.com comments that these aesthetic choices, along with the music and choreography of Pavement, succeed in bringing emotion to the stage, with a heavy dose of realitybecause Abraham created the work with the honesty of his experience, rather than any hard-lined opinions, the show served as a thoughtprovoking and exciting discussion piece. Company History: Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion (A/I/M) was founded in 2006 with the mission to create an evocative interdisciplinary body of work. Abraham was born into hip-hop culture in the late 1970s and grounded into an artistic upbringing in classical cello, piano, and the visual arts. The goal of Abrahams movement is to delve into identity in relation to a personal history. The work of A/I/M intertwines a sensual and provocative vocabulary with a strong emphasis on sound, human behavior, and all things visual in an effort to create an avenue for personal investigation and exposure on stage. A/I/M is a representation of dancers from various disciplines and diverse personal backgrounds that when combined together, create movement that is manipulated and molded into something fresh and unique. About Kyle Abraham: Kyle Abraham, 2012 Jacobs Pillow Dance Award recipient and 2012 USA Ford Fellow, began his training at the Civic Light Opera Academy and the Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He continued his dance studies in New York, receiving a B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase and an M.F.A. from New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts. In 2012, Abraham was named the New York Live Arts Resident Commissioned Artist for 2012-2014 and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater premiered Abrahams, Another Night, at New York City Center. In 2011, OUT Magazine labeled Abraham the best and brightest creative talent to emerge in New York City in the age of Obama. Abraham received a prestigious Bessie Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance for his work in The Radio Show, and a Princess Grace Award for Choreography in 2010. He was selected as one of Dance Magazines 25 To Watch for 2009. His choreography has been presented throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to performing and developing new works for his company, Abraham teaches his unique approach to postmodern dance in various schools and studios throughout the United States. Abraham also recently choreographed and performed at the Pillow with Bessie Award-winning dancer and New York City Ballet Principal Wendy Whelan in the world-premiere of Restless Creature. Festival Connections: Kyle Abraham was the 2012 Jacobs Pillow Dance Award winner. Abraham performed in the Doris Duke Theatre in 2011 on a joint bill with Camille A. Brown, and his work The Radio Show had its world premiere in the Doris Duke Theatre in 2010. Abraham.In.Motion performed as a part of the Inside/Out performance series in 2009. PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion Doris Duke Theatre Wednesday, August 21 through Saturday, August 24 at 8:15pm

Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 at 2:15pm Free Pre-Show Talks with Jacobs Pillow Scholar-in-Residence Maura Keefe are offered on the porch of the Doris Duke Theatre 30 minutes before every performance. A Post-Show Q&A with Kyle Abraham will take place onstage on Thursday, August 22. Tickets $22$38. August 24, 8:15pm Festival Finale $50 and $75. Now on sale online at jacobspillow.org, via phone at 413.243.0745, or in person at the Jacobs Pillow Box Office. Box Office hours: Sunday through Tuesday, 11am5pm; Wednesday through Saturday 11am 8pm. Jacobs Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road in Becket, MA, 01223 (10 minutes east on Route 20 from Mass Pike Exit 2). The Jacobs Pillow campus and theatres are handicapped-accessible. IN THE TED SHAWN THEATRE, AUGUST 21-25 Martha Graham Dance Company Ted Shawn Theatre Wednesday, August 21- Saturday August 25, 8pm Saturday, August 24 & Sunday, August 25, 2pm In honor of the 100th anniversary of the original iconoclastic work created by Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky, Americas most celebrated modern dance company re-stages Martha Grahams interpretation of The Rite of Spring, full of her signature bold intensity and beautifully stark choreography. The program also includes Lamentation Variations, a collection of dances inspired by Grahams famous solo, and a new work entitled RUST by noted Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato. FREE EVENTS AT JACOBS PILLOW, AUGUST 21-25 Inside/Out Performance: A Palo Seco Flamenco Henry J. Leir Stage and Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space Wednesday, August 21, 6:15pm A Palo Seco is a New York City-based Flamenco company that has been acknowledged as an upand-coming voice in the national Flamenco community. Recognized for an artistic vision deeply rooted in the Flamenco tradition, they remain relevant in a modern urban context. Led by Artistic Director and choreographer Rebeca Tomas and Musical Director Pedro Cortes, this performance will feature traditional Flamenco repertoire combined with an innovative and edgy New York City feel. FREE Inside/Out Performance: Bill Evans Dance Company Henry J. Leir Stage and Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space Thursday, August 22, 6:15pm The Bill Evans Dance Company (BEDC), founded in 1975, has performed in all 50 states, throughout Mexico and Canada and internationally. Evans has choreographed more than 250 works for professional dance companies including Repertory Dance Theatre, Ballet West, Concert Dance Company of Boston, Deutsche Opera BalletWest Berlin, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Rire-Woodbury Dance Company, Stars of American Ballet Theatre at Jacob's Pillow, and many others, including his own. He is a distinguished emeritus professor at the University of New Mexico and has served as visiting artist professor of dance at The College at Brockport, State University of New York, since 2004. BEDCO's 2013 Inside/Out performance will include three of Evans' works: Quartet for Jamie (2013), Los Ritmos Calientes (1999), and Tres Tangos (1986). FREE

PillowTalk: Dancers Among Us Blakes Barn at Jacobs Pillow Friday, August 23, 5pm Photographer Jordan Matter has produced something rare: a best-selling book of dance photography. Here he discusses his astounding images and the magic behind capturing dancers in some incredible real-life moments. FREE Inside/Out Performance: LAVA Henry J. Leir Stage and Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space Friday, August 23, 6:15pm Since their debut in 2000, the women of LAVA have manifested a unique vision of dance centered around strength, courage, and teamwork. The troupe develops and performs original works that integrate athletic physicality, intellectual rigor, and social commentary. Founded by Sarah East Johnson, LAVA has become known for an explosive choreographic language that pushes the accepted boundaries of dance and the female form, incorporating postmodern movement with acrobatics, live music, theater, and visual art. FREE PillowTalk: Framing Martha Graham Blakes Barn at Jacobs Pillow Saturday, August 24, 4pm Martha Graham Dance Company Artistic Director Janet Eilber garners both cheers and criticism for her efforts to make the Graham companys work relevant for today. Here she talks about her choices with the company. Inside/Out Performance: August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble Henry J. Leir Stage and Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space Saturday, August 24, 6:15pm With an engaging and spirited group of seven dancers, The August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (AWCDE) offers a powerhouse of repertory that features the beauty of athleticism. Hailing from the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, AWCDE is committed to staying on the pulse of contemporary dance, bringing the multicultural community together in a professional, educational environment, while preserving the African American experience. AWCDE claimed a spot on Dance Magazine's 2012 "25 to Watch. FREE Sunday Film Event: Never Stand Still Blakes Barn at Jacobs Pillow Sunday, August 25, 4:30pm Legendary dancers and choreographers appear alongside new innovators to reveal the passion, discipline, and daring of the world of dance in Never Stand Still. Filmed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, this thrilling documentary took home "Best Documentary" honors at Dance Camera West and the San Francisco Dance Film Festival and features amazing performances by world-renowned artists interwoven with intimate interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and rare archival footage. Tickets $10 Exhibit: Shooting Stars Blakes Barn at Jacobs Pillow Open June 19 Aug 25 Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 10pm, Tuesday and Sunday, noon to 6pm

To experience dance through the eyes of other dancers is a rare treat, and this exhibit encompasses uncommon sights and vantage points, photos taken by professional dancers, that will be totally new to most viewers. New York City Ballet star Wendy Whelan reveals what goes on in the dressing rooms of New York City Ballet while Miguel Anaya shares his backstage view from last seasons production From the Horses Mouth: The Men Dancers, and much more. FREE Exhibit: Jordan Matter: Dancers Among Us Ted Shawn Theatre Lobby Open 60 minutes pre-performance By showing dancers in everyday surroundings, photographer Jordan Matter demonstrates just how extraordinary the human body can be. There's no photo manipulation here--no trampolines, no gimmicks, no tricks--which makes these images of roadside leaps and high kicks on the subway all the more remarkable. Including recognizable dance figures and relative unknowns, this collection truly communicates the excitement of having dancers among us. FREE Exhibit: Christopher Duggan: Inside/Out Doris Duke Theatre Lobby Open 60 minutes pre-performance As the Pillow's Festival Photographer since 2006, Christopher Duggan has now documented literally thousands of indelible dance moments. Focusing specifically on Inside/Out for an exhibit last summer at Saratoga's National Museum of Dance, these images are now coming home for the first time. Duggan's superb extra-large prints show off an incomparable setting in an unforgettable way. FREE Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival Archives Blakes Barn at Jacobs Pillow Open June 19 Aug 25 Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 10pm, Tuesday and Sunday, noon to 5pm This informal library and reading room allows Pillow visitors to view videos, browse through books, access the Pillow's computer catalog, or peruse permanent collections of Pillow programs and photographs. Pillow Interactive, the popular touch-screen kiosk, provides instant access to rare film clips ranging from the present day back to the 1930s, and the Dance Heritage Coalition's new Secure Media Network features videos from other archives throughout the country. FREE ###
Jacobs Pillow, marking its 81st Festival in 2013, is a National Historic Landmark, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest running international dance festival. The Festival includes more than 50 national and international dance companies and 350 free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, classes, exhibits, and events. The School at Jacobs Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S., encompasses the diverse disciplines of Ballet, Cultural Traditions, Contemporary, and Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance, as well as an Intern Program in various disciplines of arts administration, design, video, and production. The Pillows extensive Archives, open year-round to the public, chronicle more than 80 years of dance in photographs, programs, books, costumes, audiotapes, and video. Year-round Community Programs enrich the lives of children and adults through public classes, residencies in area schools, and more than 200 free public events. Through Jacobs Pillow Curriculum in Motion, a nationally-recognized program, artist-educators work with Berkshire County teachers and students grades K-12, transforming curricula such as biology, literature, and history into kinesthetic and creative learning experiences. Creative Development Residencies, in which dance companies are invited to live and work at the Pillow and enjoy unlimited studio time; choreography commissions; and the annual $25,000 Jacobs Pillow Dance Award all support visionary dance artists and choreographers. Virtual Pillow is aimed at expanding global audiences for dance and offers the opportunity to experience dance and Jacob's Pillow from anywhere in the world via online interactive exhibits, global video networks, and social media. As part of the Virtual Pillow initiative, Jacobs Pillow Dance Interactive is a curated online video collection of dance highlights from 1936 to today. On March 2, 2011, President Obama honored Jacobs Pillow with a National Medal of Arts, the highest arts award given by the United States Government. Jacobs Pillow is the first dance presenting organization to receive this prestigious award. For more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org.